SPAIN RECLAIM EURO THRONE

Spain captured the EuroBasket title for the third time in four attempts by sweeping aside Lithuania 80-63 with a dominating display in Lille.

Chicago Bulls centre Pau Gasol, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, had a game-high 25 points and 12 rebounds and was instrumental as his side raced 23-8 ahead after 12 minutes in front of a European record crowd of 27,372.

Lithuania, seeking a first title since 2003, cut the gap to 41-33 at half-time but their shooting struggles and Gasol’s supremacy extended Spain’s cushion to 60-42 late in the third period and there was simply no route back.

“We got a jump on them early,” Gasol said. “Defensively, we got stops and made it hard for them. They were a younger team. A more inexperienced team. That’s a factor in finals like this because we’ve played a few. I don’t think it was an easy game but it was the sweetest victory because of the gold medal.”